Vietnamese Tet in Europe - Final Part: It's so close, Tet back home!

Wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), arranging the five-fruit tray, lighting incense sticks to offer to ancestors, or visiting relatives and friends... These seemingly familiar things are actually cherished by Vietnamese people living abroad every time Tet (Vietnamese New Year) comes around.

People from Thanh Hoa celebrate Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) in the Federal Republic of Germany.

But that was the story of many decades ago, when economic conditions and travel were difficult. Now, with the strong development of transportation networks worldwide, geographical distances seem shorter, making it easier for Vietnamese people living abroad to return home to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year).

Traveling tens of thousands of kilometers, what they carry on these flights is not only love and longing, but also the aspiration to contribute to building their homeland.

In Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, Ms. Le Thi Thuy has a lush green garden. In that garden, each season brings its own bounty, always overflowing with tropical vegetables and fruits, from gourds and pumpkins to water spinach, jute mallow, and cabbage...

In 2003, leaving her hometown of Thanh Hoa, Ms. Thuy moved to the Czech Republic to settle down. For over 20 years abroad, she has diligently preserved the traditions and identity of her homeland.

“Although life here is very busy, in the days leading up to Tet, my family and I always take the time to decorate the house, buy fresh flowers and offerings. Relatives gather together, making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), nem (spring rolls), gio (Vietnamese sausage), cha (Vietnamese sausage)... On New Year's Eve and the first three days of the new year, I prepare a feast to offer to our ancestors. Afterwards, the whole extended family gathers together to eat and have fun…” - Ms. Le Thi Thuy said.

Ms. Le Thi Thuy's family held their New Year's Eve dinner in the Czech Republic.

Previously, Thuy had returned to her hometown many times, but never during the Lunar New Year. In recent years, she has returned home for Tet more often, because her elderly mother is still there, and travel is more convenient than before...

During Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) in her hometown, Thuy often sets up a wood-fired stove in the corner of the yard with her relatives, spreads out mats, and gathers to wrap banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), then stays up all night watching over them. According to her: "Nowadays, banh chung are sold everywhere in the market, anyone can buy them, which is convenient and quick. But when I wrap and cook them myself, I feel very happy and emotional, because I truly get to experience the Tet atmosphere of my homeland."

Besides returning home for Tet (Lunar New Year), Ms. Le Thi Thuy also invests in business in Vietnam, participating in connecting and introducing reputable products from Thanh Hoa to the European market.

For Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai Van, a Vietnamese expatriate who has lived in Germany for over 30 years, returning home for Tet (Lunar New Year) is a source of great happiness. Ms. Hai Van settled in Germany before she turned 20. Although her family celebrates the New Year every year in Berlin, perhaps no Tet is more joyful or touching than the Tet in her birthplace.

Back in her hometown, Hoa Loc coastal commune, Hai Van's family has an ancient ancestral temple. In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), generations gather to decorate flower vases, arrange the five-fruit offering, and prepare the New Year's Eve feast.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hai Yen, the mother of Hai Van, is over 80 years old this year. Both of her daughters live in Europe, so whenever they return home, her Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration becomes complete and heartwarming.

"I'm so happy to welcome my children and grandchildren home. I always remind my children that no matter where they are, they must preserve the traditions of our nation, preserve the Tet holiday of our homeland," Mrs. Yen shared.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai Van (wearing a red ao dai) and her family celebrate Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) in Vietnam.

In addition to her business activities, Ms. Hai Van is also an active member of the Vietnam Women's Union in the Federal Republic of Germany and many other community organizations. Together with other members of the Union, she regularly shows her support for her homeland through meaningful activities, especially fundraising and donations to help those in need, affected by natural disasters, and floods.

Driven by a longing for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) and a desire to contribute to the development of her homeland, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha has been returning to Vietnam more and more frequently in recent years.

Ms. Thu Ha and her family have been living in the state of Thuringia, Germany, for nearly 40 years. Despite being away from her homeland for so long, her memories of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) remain vivid: “Even now, I still remember my childhood memories. Tet would come, and I would help my father clean the ancestral altar, and go to the flower market to shop for Tet with my mother.”

Life was hard back then, and during Tet (Lunar New Year), we were lucky to even buy a few kilograms of sticky rice to make banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes). Every year, when my mother bought a few packets of jam and candy, my sisters and I were incredibly excited.

"What I remember most is the scene of the whole family gathering around the pot of sticky rice cakes on a dark night, listening to my grandfather tell stories. Perhaps, the memories of those impoverished but warm Tet holidays have made me, no matter where I live, always cherish my family and my homeland."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha's family has built and developed a German language training center, connecting Thanh Hoa students with job and study opportunities in Germany, creating opportunities for them to learn and acquire Western knowledge and culture, and later return to build their homeland. In addition, she collaborates with businesses to connect German cuisine and culture in Thanh Hoa.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha (wearing a purple ao dai) at a culinary networking event in Thanh Hoa.

For families of the 80s generation, like Mr. Nguyen Quang Truong and Ms. Nguyen Bao Ngoc, returning to their hometown for Tet is not only about experiencing the spring atmosphere of their homeland, but also about helping their children better understand their national roots.

Perhaps, due to frequent exposure to the country's culture, the children, despite their young age, have a deep understanding and integration with their homeland. Recently, Mr. Nguyen Quang Truong's eldest son independently undertook a trip through many provinces and cities of Vietnam, bringing his friends back to visit, travel, and experience the culture of his country.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Truong's family regularly participates in activities of the Thanh Hoa community in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Not only do many families in Thanh Hoa preserve Vietnamese Tet culture within their families and communities, but they also continuously promote it to the people of their host countries.

This Lunar New Year, Mrs. Bui Thi Xuan and her family are busy celebrating in Erfurt, Thuringia, Germany. For many years, she and her husband have participated together in political, cultural, and social activities in their adopted homeland. Furthermore, Mrs. Bui Thi Xuan organizes a performing arts group that regularly performs Vietnamese songs and dances at cultural events in Erfurt.

Through these simple methods, Mrs. Xuan's family quietly introduced Vietnamese culture, and the culture of Thanh Hoa province, to the local community.

Ms. Xuan has two grandchildren, both of Vietnamese-German mixed heritage. Every Tet holiday, she and her mother buy them traditional Vietnamese ao dai dresses and take them to community events – so that, despite having two bloodlines, they understand Vietnamese cultural traditions and see them as part of their roots.

The Bui Thi Xuan family celebrated Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in the city of Erfurt.

The journey of integration and advancement of people from Thanh Hoa in Europe has been marked by many ups and downs.

It was hard work, very difficult...

There is happiness and success...

Regardless of the circumstances, the people of Thanh Kieu always remain united, close-knit, and supportive of one another, overcoming all difficulties and challenges together.

And, the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation, especially the traditional Lunar New Year, will forever be a warm flame, warming and supporting the steps of those who are far from their homeland, on their journey of integration and advancement...

An Thu

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tet-viet-o-troi-au-bai-cuoi-gan-lam-tet-que-278727.htm